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ESX on track to be largest ever

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—The 2012 Electronic Security Expo is on track to be the largest in the event’s five-year history, with more exhibitors and a projected 30 percent increase in attendance from last year, according to event organizers.

ESX, owned by the Central Station Alarm Association and the Electronic Security Association, focuses on the industry's installation, integration and monitoring companies. ESX is returning to its roots in Nashville this year after being held in Pittsburgh, Pa., in 2009 and 2010 and in Charlotte, N.C., in 2011. The show will run from June 25-29 at the Nashville Convention Center.

Nancy Franco, VP of operations for AE Ventures, the managing partner for the event, said momentum for ESX 2012 has been "incredibly strong" among exhibitors.

"We had 171 exhibiting companies at ESX 2011," Franco told Security Systems News. "We've already surpassed that number for this year with 174 as of today [May 4], with almost eight weeks still to go. We are projecting 200 exhibitors."

That strength has carried over to anticipated attendance for the show, Franco said, with registration tracking nearly 30 percent ahead of 2011 and another push expected before the end of May.

"We are projecting 3,000 attendees. Last year, we had just over 2,200," she said. "The numbers are really picking up and looking strong. Our registration deadline for early bird pricing is June 1, and we always see a mass influx of registrations coming in [shortly] before that deadline. People procrastinate as much as possible."

Franco said it was typical for some exhibitors to procrastinate as well, adding that there was still time to reserve a spot on the floor of the convention center.

"There have been events where we've sold booth space on the day of move-in," she said. "But the sooner an exhibitor confirms participation, the better experience they'll have because they have more time to promote themselves."

Educational sessions have become increasingly popular at ESX, Franco said, with 55 scheduled this year. Subjects will range from sales and marketing to central station operations to RMR, "which is obviously a big highlight of the show."

The keynote speaker at ESX 2012 will be Kix Brooks of the country music duo Brooks & Dunn. Featured speakers include Marianna Perry, former director of the National Crime Prevention Institute at the University of Louisville, and Kristen Simmons, former VP of marketing for Mazda North America, who led the company's "zoom zoom" ad campaign. (Simmons recently talked to SSN TV News about her upcoming address.) SSN also will honor its "20 under 40" list of industry up-and-comers at the Eye-Opener Breakfast on June 26.